Any west stand regulars - not a knock it down thread!

I've honestly never sat in the West Stand in my life. Just wondered what the layout of the concourse is under the stand? How many snap oyls are there etc? And is the 'closed' end of the concourse blocked off or even visible from the open end? Does the closed end have ladies/gents bogs and a catering station were it to be open? Is it realistically 'openable' in our modern climate of health and safety and whatnot?

Just my curiosity

 

There is no concourse, the steps lead to the outside.
There's one food area and it's always packed.
The closed part of the stand has an open gate between it and the open, with a steward stood next to it allowing press etc. through.

 

Thanks, do you know what year(ish) we effectively started to close that end of the stand? I have memories of it being open maybe 3 or 4 times about ten years ago for Chelsea, then for away fans from Sheff Wed/Utd but I think it's been mainly closed since I started going which was around 2002 but I might be remembering wrong.

 

It was definately open for the Chelsea game.

The last team I remember in the other half of the west stand were Yeovil (Cannot remember what season) when the away end was given away to school kids.

 

Yeah, that's the highest attendance I've ever seen at Oakwell. 22,410. What an amazing day.

 

Not a patch on the Man City game in March 2000.

Highest attendance in current stadium format and the place was rocking.

No issue with North Stand packed and adjacent East and West bits packed too. Don’t know why all the fuss these days.

 

Am I right in thinking there is a bar underneath the West Stand towards the away end? I was in the West Stand upper tier for the Man City friendly and remember seeing two bouncers either side of a door on the back of the stand.

 

No. That’s the entrance for scouts and media etc. Hence the security. There is a cafe style room there that’s been done it recently to offer a comfortable area for scouts and officials from other clubs.

 

Little bar , and pool table too . Not sure who uses it now though

 

In 1990s it was known as the Vice Presidents room.

 

In the late 80’s early 90’s the only seating for away fans was in the North end of the West Stand. Facilities at the back were shared with fans in the North Terrace.

On more than one occasion going for a pee at half time resulted in a full exchange of views with our visitors. Villa being a particularly memorable away following.

 

There was a little shop as you came through the turnstiles at that end that sold hat's, scarves , programmes etc , or is my mind playing tricks on me ?

 

Knock it darn.

 

Been in once or twice and it stunk lol they is a little bar thing though it looks similar to Scunthorpe’s. They didn’t sell polos though

 

That was the old club shop. Or brick hut with a small opening in to serve through to call it correctly.

I think it’s still there, but a store room.

 

We go in once every season for the nostalgia. I used to sit in Block B with my dad for most games when I first started going in 1974 until 1982-ish. It doesn't smell like it used to though, a tobacco + tomato soup mixture.

 

Think this is what you are talking about. Also featuring the famous bogs.

https://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/collections/WE-LIVE-ON-OAKWELL-p128807314

 

Been in that little lock up shop times many, usually accompanied by then Club Secretary
Michael Spink, a man who I held in high regard incidentally. Pretty much like today, you could buy
replica kits, scarves, beanie hats, programmes and a whole host of assorted Reds merchandise.
Two of my all time favourite buys were a bright Red sweater with a Toby Tyke badge on it and a really
warm Red fleece. Back then, our Marketing team consisted of one person Gerry Whewall. I used to
sell scratch cards for the Club at work. I then used to meet Gerry at the lock up Club shop on matchdays to handover the cash I had collected with any unsold cards. When I first supported the Reds, my son and I stood onthe Ponte end terracing but once the re- development of the ground got underway, we switched to the West Stand lower concourse,on the grounds that once the other stands were fully operational, the view from the West Stand gave the impression you were in a brand new Stadium. I concur the Clarke years were exciting. Our first ever game was the 5-2 win at home against Bournemouth in Nov 1988. There were just short of 5,000 there that day in a vibrant game that saw David Currie bag four of the goals. All of the pre-match hype had been about Luther Blissett who was in the Cherries team that day. From that day forward, my son and I were " hooked" and during the ensuing thirty odd years ,the Reds have been "our" team ever since.